First of all, I'm only now learning about Musica Popular do Brasil, and a range of other musics from Brasil, from the wonderful listserv saudadesdobrasil. If you are interested in learning more, you can subscribe by sending an email to majordomo@lists.iecc.com and have the body of your email include only the phrase subscribe saudadesdobrasil. Or you might visit a website much more informed about musica popular brasileira. If you can deal with Brasilian Portuguese, visit http://www.sombras.com.br/sites.htm for a constellation of Brasilian music sites. Maybe the websites can give you some information, but you have to hear the music to know anything about it for yourself. Buy some CDs, sit back and listen, I promise: you don't even have to know Portuguese (but it helps).
Other resources exist on the Web. A wonderful tribute to the artist Joao Gilberto includes a complete discography and some moving notes.
Another site celebrates Heitor Villa-Lobos and his music.
You can find out about the Brasilian singer Leila Pinheiro or about the singer and composer Gilberto Gil, one of the, one of the founders of the Tropicalismo movement. (Alternatively visit another Gil site.)
You can find out about the joyful Maria Bethania or about Marisa Monte.
One of the best websites ever, Egídio Leitão's tribute to Simone has been retired. However he has excelled again with the magical MusicaBrasileira site.
Oh heck! Go to Brasilian Music Links and lose yourself finding out about so many wonderful singers!
There are doubtlessly many, many more - probably several I "know" about and have forgotten for the moment. But to really understand why some people have such a delight and avidness for MPB, get yourself some CDs by Elis Regina, Milton Nascimento, Zizzi Possi, Caetano Veloso, or Antonio Carlos Jobim and take an evening to just enjoy them. Even if you know no Portuguese when the evening begins, you'll find yourself charmed, moved, and enchanted before it's over. Happy listening. Happy discovering.
.